Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Pope Benedict XVI Appeals for Release of Iraqi Archbishop


IRAQI ARCHBISHOP PAULOS FARAJ RAHHO KIDNAPPED

The Archbishop was kidnapped last Friday after having celebrated the Way of the Cross in the Church of Holy Spirit Parish, on the eastern outskirts of the city. In the abduction three men, with the archbishop, were killed. A Sunni stronghold in the north of the country, Mosul is more or less under the full control of terrorists and religious militias. Just a few weeks ago, US forces in Iraq along with Baghdad decided to launch a massive military operation to “clean-up” the area. Ordinary citizens, from across the religious divide, are suffering the consequences of this difficult situation. But Christians are once again being faced with stark choices, leave their homes or; convert to Islam; pay the jizya – the tax imposed by the Koran on non Muslim subjects- or death.

Three Christians were killed in kidnapping of Mosul bishop buried in Karamles
The funerals were held on 01st March 2008 for the driver and two bodyguards. The same city also holds the tomb of Fr Ragheed, killed last year in the area where Archbishop Rahho was kidnapped yesterday. Sources in Iraq speak of "signs that leave hope that he may be alive". The appeal of the pope and the apprehension of the faithful and the patriarchate: the bishop is sick and needs his medicines.


An appeal "that reason and humanity may prevail in the authors of the kidnapping, and that Archbishop Rahho may be restored as soon as possible to the care of his flock" was launched yesterday evening by the pope. Benedict XVI says that he is "embittered by this execrable new act, which profoundly affects the whole Church in the country, and in particular the Chaldean Church". He also expresses his "closeness" to the patriarch, Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly (currently in Amman) and to "that entire, sorely tried Christian community, and also to the family members of the victims". The pope, finally, invited the universal Church "to unite with its fervent prayer the intention that the Iraqi people may find the path of reconciliation and peace".


The leaders of the Church in Iraq have been mobilised in the effort to liberate Archbishop Rahho, as have representatives of the Muslim community. The appeal from some Iraqi imams should come between today and tomorrow.


The archbishop of Mosul had in the past denounced the persecution of Christians taking place in the city, and had already received several threats. On June 3, 2007, in the area of the same church where his kidnapping took place yesterday, Fr Ragheed Gani and three subdeacons were shot to death. "In Mosul", recount the inhabitants, "we are all frightened, Christians and Muslims, we are afraid, but we are praying for the bishop".

In diocese throughout Iraq prayers are said around the clock for Msgr. Rahho’s safe return, while local TV’s continuously transmit appeals from Christian leaders and the Pope for his release. Ample space is also given to the condemnation of Shiite and Sunni leaders who have defined this kidnap as “against every principal of Islam”. Today the Iraqi Prime Minister, Nurial Maliki, specified that “attacking Christians means attacking the Iraqi people”. In a message sent to Chaldean Patriarch Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly, the premier says that he has given instructions to “the minister for the Interior and the security forces in the province of Niniveh to work without rest to guarantee, as soon as possible, the return of the Archbishop of Mosul”. Card. Delly has just arrived in Baghdad from a recent visit to Amman.

Late News

IRAQ
Kidnappers of Mosul bishop, raise the ransom
Yesterday evening, another telephone call, increasing the ransom and dictating conditions which “complicate the case”. Still no guarantees on the “wellbeing” of the bishop, abducted on February 29th. These latest developments raise fears that these are no ordinary criminals interested solely in money. Iraq’s premier sends a message to the Chaldean Patriarch.
Mosul (AsiaNews) – The men who have the fate of Msgr. Paulos Faraj Rahho, Chaldean Archbishop of Mosul in their hands since February 29th last, have raised the ransom and dictated “political conditions” for his release, according to AsiaNews sources in Iraq, close to mediators who are negotiating his safe return. Late yesterday afternoon another phone call was made. The group which holds the bishop hostage, used Msgr. Rahoo’s mobile phone to communicate, but has still given no proof of his wellbeing. “It almost seems as if his release- anonymous sources in Mosul tell – is of secondary importance in their demands and the conditions which they have imposed greatly complicate matters, leading us to think that they are not just simple criminals interested in money”. Concern is increasing for the 67 year-old hostage who suffers ill health, for which he needs daily treatment.

In diocese throughout Iraq prayers are said around the clock for Msgr. Rahho’s safe return, while local TV’s continuously transmit appeals from Christian leaders and the Pope for his release. Ample space is also given to the condemnation of Shiite and Sunni leaders who have defined this kidnap as “against every principal of Islam”. Today the Iraqi Prime Minister, Nuri al Maliki, specified that “attacking Christians means attacking the Iraqi people”. In a message sent to Chaldean Patriarch Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly, the premier says that he has given instructions to “the minister for the Interior and the security forces in the province of Niniveh to work without rest to guarantee, as soon as possible, the return of the Archbishop of Mosul”. Card. Delly has just arrived in Baghdad from a recent visit to Amman

Church Faces Danger of False Prophets, Says Preacher


Lenten Meditation for Pope and Curia
 
VATICAN CITY, FEB. 29, 2008 (Zenit.org).- The Church's preachers of the
word of God can become false prophets if they do not speak "as with
words of God," guarding against allowing their words to become "useless,"  said the preacher of the Pontifical Household.
 
Capuchin Father Rainero Cantalamessa said this today in the Lenten
meditation he delivered to Benedict XVI and the Roman Curia in the
Redemptoris Mater Chapel of the Apostolic Palace.
 
The sermon titled "'For Every Useless Word': Speaking 'as With Words of
God'" was the second in a series of Lenten meditations the preacher
will give this Lent.
 
The series, titled "The Word of God Is Living and Effective," reflects
the theme of the next Synod of Bishops on the word of God, to be held
in October.
 
In the first meditation, Father Cantalamessa discussed Jesus as the
preacher of good news; in today's reflection, he turned his attention to Jesus as that which is preached.
 
"When the Apostle wants to embrace the content of Christian preaching
with a single word, this word is always the person of Jesus Christ," he
said. "In these statements Jesus is no longer seen -- as in the Gospels -- in his quality as preacher, but as that which is preached.
Similarly, [] from the 'glad tidings' in which Jesus is the subject, one passes  to the 'glad tidings' in which Jesus is the object."
 
Useless word
 
Discussing Jesus' admonition that "men will have to answer for every
 useless word on the day of judgment," Father Cantalamessa contended, "The opposition between the word of God and the word of men is presented here, implicitly, as an opposition between the word 'that works' and the word 'that does not work,' between the effective word and the ineffective and vain word."
 
He continued, "The useless word, for which men will have to answer on
the Day of Judgment, is not, therefore, every and any useless word; it
is rather the useless, empty word pronounced by him who should instead
pronounce the 'energetic' words of God."
 
But the Pontifical Household preacher clarified: "The Bible is speaking
about us. That word of Jesus does not judge the world, but the Church;
the world will not be judged over useless words -- all of its words
are, in the sense described above, useless words! [] The 'men' who must
answer for every useless word are the men of the Church; we are the
preachers of the word of God.
 
"I too am the false prophet, every time that I do not entrust myself to
the 'weakness,' 'foolishness,' 'poverty' and 'nakedness' of the word
and I cover it up, and I esteem what I have clothed it in more than the
word itself, and the time that I spend covering it up is more than that
which I spend with the word, remaining before it in prayer, worshipping it and allowing it to live in me.
 
"In the era of mass communication the Church too runs the risk of
falling into the 'straw' of useless words, speaking just to say something, writing just because there are journals and newspapers to be filled."
 
The Capuchin noted, "The Holy Father reminded us of the necessity of
this fast from words in his Lenten meeting with the pastors of Rome and I believe, as is his wont, his invitation was not first directed to the
world but to the Church."
 
Distinct
 
Father Cantalamessa had concrete advice for preachers.
 
He urged recollection before rising to proclaim God's word: "The
concern to keep the word of God distinct from every other word is such that, sending his apostles out on mission, Jesus commands them not to greet anyone on the way. I experienced at my own expense that sometimes this commandment must be obeyed to the letter.
 
"Stopping to greet people and exchange pleasantries as one is about to
begin preaching inevitably disturbs concentration on the word that is
to be announced and causes this word to lose its alterity in regard to
all human discourse. The same exigency is experienced -- or should be
experienced -- when one is vesting to celebrate Mass."
 
"The exigency is even greater when it is a matter of the content itself
of preaching," the Capuchin affirmed. "The word of God cannot be used
for other ends or to clothe already existing human discourses with the
mantle of divine authority. In times that are still near to us, one saw
where such a tendency led. The Gospel was used to support every type
of human project from class struggle to the death of God.
 
"Obviously, the reality of experience, and thus the human word, is not
excluded from the Church's preaching, but it has to be subordinated to
the word of God, to the service of this word.
 
"It is necessary, because of this, to have the courage more often to
begin, in treating the doctrinal and disciplinary problems of the Church, from the word of God, especially that of the New Testament, and to remain thus linked to it, bound by it, certain that in this way one will more surely discover, in every question, what the will of God is."
 
Making it mine
 
Father Cantalamessa acknowledged, "I realize that a grave objection can
be raised to what I am saying. Should the Church's preaching, then,
reduce itself to a sequence -- or a barrage -- of biblical citations,
with so many indications of chapter and verse, in a manner reminiscent of the Jehovah's Witnesses and other fundamentalist groups? Certainly
not."
 
"What does it mean to 'speak in Christ,' or to speak 'as with the words
of God'?," he asked. "It means that the fundamental inspiration, the
thought that 'informs' and rules everything else, must come from God,
not from man."
 
The Pontifical Household preacher said there are two ways to prepare
any proclamation of the faith.
 
"I can sit down at the desk and choose for myself which word to
proclaim and the theme to develop, basing myself on my knowledge, my
preferences, etc., and then, once the discourse is prepared, get on my knees to hastily ask God to bless that which I have written and make my words effective. [] The contrary is what should be done. First, get on your knees and ask God what the word is that he wants to speak; then, sit at the desk and use your own knowledge to give a body to that word. This changes everything because it is not God who must make my word his, but it is I who make his word mine."
 
"It is necessary to begin with the certainty of faith that, in every
circumstance, the Risen Lord has a word in his heart that he wants to
reach his people," Father Cantalamessa said. "It is that which changes
things and it is that which must be discovered. And he will not fail to
reveal it to his servant, if his servant asks for it humbly and
insistently.
 
"Then go to your desk, open your books, consult your notes, consult the
Fathers of the Church, the masters, the poets. But it is already
something else. It is no longer the Word of God at the service of your
culture but your culture at the service of the Word of God."
 
Clay pots
 
Father Cantalamessa affirmed that this type of preaching is not easy:
"After having indicated the conditions of Christian proclamation --
speaking of Christ with sincerity as moved by God and under his gaze -- the apostle asks: 'And who is up to this task?'
 
"It is plain that no one is up to it. We carry this treasure in earthen
vessels. We can, however, pray and say: Lord, have mercy on this poor
clay pot that must carry the treasure of your word; [] let us once
taste your word so that we know how to distinguish it from all others and so that every other word will appear insipid to us. Spread hunger
 throughout the land, as you promised, 'not a hunger for bread, or a thirst for water, but for hearing the word of the Lord.'"